Life history costs of olfactory status signalling in mice

Large body size confers a competitive advantage in animal contests but does not always determine the outcome. Here we explore the trade-off between short-term achievement of high social status and longer-term life history costs in animals which vary in competitive ability. Using laboratory mice, Mus musculus, as a model system, we show that small competitors can initially maintain dominance over larger males by increasing investment in olfactory status signalling (scent-marking), but only at the cost of reduced growth rate and body size. As a result they become more vulnerable to dominance reversals later in life. Our results also provide the first empirical information about life history costs of olfactory status signals. Received: 15 December 1999 / Revised: 6 June 2000 / Accepted: 24 June 2000     

放射性废物处置库顶盖毛细屏障的研究进展

放射性废物处置库工程屏障的设计对处置库中放射性废物的长期安全具有重要意义.毛细屏障作为处置库顶盖的工程屏障之一,已在国内外得到广泛的应用.阐述了放射性废物处置库顶盖毛细屏障设置的意义,对近年来毛细屏障的一些研究进展进行了分析,提出了一些尚待解决的问题.     

生态补偿研究现状与进展

回顾和总结了国外生态补偿理论研究和实践发展状况,指出为我国建立生态补偿机制的借鉴作用,分析了我国生态补偿研究现状和实践进程。得出我国生态补偿在理论和实践层面还有需要加强和完善之处,最后提出我国生态补偿研究的主要方向。     

沈阳市区臭氧污染状况调查与分析

对沈阳市区环境空气中的臭氧污染现状进行了调查与分析,利用沈阳市大气自动监测系统的数据,分别分析了沈阳城市中心区和城市边缘区臭氧的污染情况以及臭氧与其他污染物之间的相关性,并总结了臭氧与其他污染物的季节性变化趋势。     

湘江重金属污染现状、污染原因分析与对策探讨

湘江是长江的重要支流,湘江流域内聚集了湖南约60%的人口,创造了全省近3/4的GDP。近年来随着工农业的快速发展、城市圈的扩大、沿江两岸矿产资源的开发,湘江重金属污染日趋严重。湘江综合治理不仅关系到湖南经济的发展、社会的和谐,还关系到长江流域的可持续发展。本文在对湘江水资源作基本介绍的基础上,着重调查了重金属污染现状与己形成的影响,对重金属污染来源与原因进行了分析,提出了湘江重金属污染防治的对策与建议。     

塔机安全监控与评估系统开发及应用

目前中国由于建设项目繁多,在役塔机数量急剧上升,若不加强监管和提升控制手段,安全事故隐患会随着塔机数量的增加剧增。本文对塔机安全事故发生的主要原因进行了分析,介绍了塔机安全监控和评估系统的技术现状,对一种新研发的塔机安全监控与评估系统做了简要阐述。同时通过对试点工程的应用,指出了本塔机安全监控和评估系统的优势,为塔机的安全作业监控提供了一个新的技术方法和手段。     

Incentive compatibility tests of choice experiment value elicitation questions

This paper uses laboratory experiments with induced values to address fundamental issues related to the incentive compatibility of choice experiment value elicitation questions. In particular, we compare two- versus three-option choice sets and the effect of using alternative provision rules, including one where the outcome is influenced by both participant and “regulator” votes. We find the overall proportion of choices that are inconsistent with induced preferences is rather low. However, there are more deviations from induced preferences for two-option choice sets, and for alternatives to a simple plurality vote implementation rule. A multinomial probit analysis of choices in tandem with a mixed logit welfare analysis suggests there is a statistically significant but modest degree of bias towards selecting the status quo option.     

原沈阳冶炼厂主厂区土壤污染现状评价及污染治理措施

在对原沈阳冶炼厂主厂区土壤污染现状评价的基础上,提出了土壤重金属污染治理措施。     

Armaments and ornaments in the rock sparrow: a possible dual utility of a carotenoid-based feather signal

Females often base their mating preferences on male sexual secondary traits that are used to settle contests among males. Such traits are likely to be honest indicators of male quality if they are constantly used during costly male–male agonistic interactions. Carotenoid signals have been shown to work as a handicap because they are costly to produce. However, the role of carotenoids as “honest” signals during male contests is less clear, and it is not known whether a carotenoid-based trait can serve in both male–male competition and female choice. In this study, we studied the dual function of a carotenoid feather ornament in the rock sparrow (Petronia petronia), a bird species in which both sexes have a yellow throat patch whose size positively correlates with phenotypic measures. First, we investigated, in a field study, whether the size of a male’s yellow patch correlates with his ability to acquire a territory. Second, we tested the signal function of the yellow patch in two male–male interaction in captivity experiments. Finally, we measured female preference for males differing in throat patch size in a mate choice experiment. Our experiments revealed that the size of a male’s throat patch positively correlated with the number of nest boxes he was able to defend. Moreover, in controlled conditions, males with relatively large yellow patches had earlier access to food than those with small patches. Also, in an experiment in which a dummy rock sparrow with an experimentally manipulated yellow patch was positioned near a feeder, latency to feed by focal birds positively correlated with dummy patch size. Lastly, in a dichotomous mate choice experiment, females showed a proximity preference for males whose patch was experimentally enlarged. Taken together, these results suggest that the same carotenoid feather signal may be used in both male–male competition and female choice in this passerine bird.     

污水回用处理技术现状分析

概括地介绍了污水回用的国内外发展现状，水质标准以及处理技术，并对其效益作了简要分析。